2008 Woodie Awards
An Israelite On a Mission
Freshman brings controversial teachings to campus
Danielle Bevans
Issue date: 3/24/08 Section: News
Flyers decorate the walls of Lincoln University academic buildings and residence halls bearing the question "Who Am I?" Weeks earlier, students and faculty may have found those with another inquiry: "Can a Man Have More Than One Wife?" These are the questions posed by one determined student. He calls himself an "Israelite."
Curtis Reed, an 18-year-old freshmen, first introduced Lincoln University to Israelite beliefs when he invited his "brothers" to his fall semester African American Experience class to explain to students why "they are not African American."
"That's a slave name," said Reed, who explained that, according to Genesis 49 and Deuteronomy 28 of the King James Version of the Bible, all people of African American, Hispanic, West Indian, and Native American descent are, in fact, the "true Hebrew Israelite Jews."
"We are the descendants of Abraham, Isaiah, and Jacob. Anyone born out of that lineage is considered an Israelite," he said.
Reed began learning about his Israelite heritage at a very young age. While many parents took their children to church, Jonathan Reed, his father, took the time to teach him about his "true nationality."
"(Israelites) is not a religion," Reed explained, "It is a race." One cannot convert into an Israelite; however, a person of any nationality can believe in the God of Israel, he said.
"My job and purpose is to bring the ideas of the Most High to the people," said Reed. "I am trying to make myself a vessel for whatever the Most High wants to use me for."
Reed, who has been teaching the Israelite philosophy since high school, felt it important to spread the word at Lincoln University. His mission: "To delete the lies that are being taught by churches and schools."
So far, Reed has reached several Lincoln University students. In his first session, "Can a Man Have More Than One Wife?" Reed faced much scrutiny from his female audience.
"One girl called me the devil," Reed said. However, Reed continued, "I don't care about feelings when it comes to the word of the Most High. I'm going to teach you regardless."
Curtis Reed, an 18-year-old freshmen, first introduced Lincoln University to Israelite beliefs when he invited his "brothers" to his fall semester African American Experience class to explain to students why "they are not African American."
"That's a slave name," said Reed, who explained that, according to Genesis 49 and Deuteronomy 28 of the King James Version of the Bible, all people of African American, Hispanic, West Indian, and Native American descent are, in fact, the "true Hebrew Israelite Jews."
"We are the descendants of Abraham, Isaiah, and Jacob. Anyone born out of that lineage is considered an Israelite," he said.
Reed began learning about his Israelite heritage at a very young age. While many parents took their children to church, Jonathan Reed, his father, took the time to teach him about his "true nationality."
"(Israelites) is not a religion," Reed explained, "It is a race." One cannot convert into an Israelite; however, a person of any nationality can believe in the God of Israel, he said.
"My job and purpose is to bring the ideas of the Most High to the people," said Reed. "I am trying to make myself a vessel for whatever the Most High wants to use me for."
Reed, who has been teaching the Israelite philosophy since high school, felt it important to spread the word at Lincoln University. His mission: "To delete the lies that are being taught by churches and schools."
So far, Reed has reached several Lincoln University students. In his first session, "Can a Man Have More Than One Wife?" Reed faced much scrutiny from his female audience.
"One girl called me the devil," Reed said. However, Reed continued, "I don't care about feelings when it comes to the word of the Most High. I'm going to teach you regardless."
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